‘Close Cebu City abattoir, 66 other businesses’

Mandaue City treasurer cites lack of business permits

The Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office recommended the closure of Cebu City’s modern abattoir and 66 other business establishments in barangays Subangdaku and Tipolo for failure to comply with permit requirements  after repeated demands.

Regal Oliva, Mandaue city treasurer, said these  establishments weren’t able to settle their business taxes and other fees or secure business permits.

They were  visited three times and told to comply with requirements but  failed to fulfill them.

Cebu City’s modern abattoir in M. Logarta St., Southpoint Reclamation Area, Subangdaku, Mandaue City has no business permit.

Oliva said their last communication with the Cebu City government was in November of last year.

“They said that they will come and settle. It’s been  almost one year .  I don’t  think this is  a good practice anymore for one city that has been hardly campaigning for payment of taxes and they’re not doing it,” he said.

The 1,165-square meter slaughterhouse and office can be closed anytime Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes decides to order the closure.

Oliva said the mayor has the sole authority to shut down an establishment.

Oliva said the listed  establishments  can still comply with  requirements  before then.

The Cebu City government, however, is willing to operate its slaughterhouse with complete requirements.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will let the City Legal Office and City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas answer the issue.

“It has to be a treasurer-to-treasurer matter. So Diwa has to be on top of it. I know Regal Oliva is a reasonable treasurer,” he said

Cuevas said that she will meet with her Mandaue City counterpart on Monday to find out what documents the Cebu city government need to accomplish.

She said that she will also update  Oliva about the income of the slaughterhouse since it is needed to identify the facility’s obligation on its taxes.

The Mandaue CTO recommended the closures after their first round of tax mapping in July 30.

The Cebu City modern abattoir was given until Aug. 5 to comply with  requirements.

As of yesterday,  no documents were submitted to the Mandaue Treasurer’s Office.

“Therefore, not having been in possession of an approved business permit/license CY 2015, you are deemed operating the business illegally, in violation of the Revised Omnibus Tax Ordinance of the Mandaue City Revenue Code, which shall be a cause for legal action against you,” a part of the final demand letter read.

Of the 67 establishments recorded, one is located in Tipolo.

These include a kiosk of Pino Filipino Restaurant, Cebu Home and Builders Centre (warehouse), Ting Guan Trading Corporation (real estate lessor), Ram-G Trucking (truck/van services), Side V

Burgers Inc. (Don Juan), and  E-Gadget (cellphone accessories).